Tuesday 14 February 2012

KZN Midlands Activities March to July 2012

Committee: Chairman Drummond Densham/033-330-4039, Outing activities Eve Hughes/033-330-2723, Evening activities Peter Divall/033-239-5537, Secretary Sally Cumming/072-119-4253, Membership Secretary Pam Nicol/033-330-2947, Treasurer Viv O’Neill/083-464-7666 Howick evening meetings are held at WESSA in their Goldfields Education Centre on the 3rd Wed of the month, registration from 17:30 for 18:00. Pietermaritzburg evening meetings are held at the Zoology Lecture Theatre, John Bews Building, Life Science Campus, end of Carbis Road at 19:00. Costs: BirdLife Members R10 pp. Non-members R15 pp.

March
Sun. 4 – Morning outing to Darvill at 06:30. Leader – Gordon Bennett 033-386-5555
Sun. 11 – Morning outing to Bisley Valley at 06:30. Leader – Mike Spain 033-347-2797
Thurs. 15 – Evening meeting at Zoology Lecture Theatre, Pmb. Illustrated talk by Meyrick Bowker on 'Zululand Bird Research - The Fun Side'. 
Sun. 18 – Morning outing to Tillietudlem in the Upper Dargle. Venues sometimes change owing to weather etc. so please phone the leader first, also please phone regarding time and place to meet. Leader Hugh Bulcock 082-373-6569
Wed. 21 – Evening meeting at WESSA – Illustrated talk by John Carlyon on ‘Nocturnal Birds.’
Wed. 28 – Morning outing to Tillietudlem in the Upper Dargle. Meet at Umgeni Valley at 07h00 to arrange transport. Venues sometimes change owing to weather etc. so please phone the leader first. Leader – Karin Nelson 033-330-3027
                                                           
April
Sun. 1 – Morning outing to Darvill at 07h00. Leader – Gordon Bennett 033-386-5555
Sun. 8 – No morning outing – Easter Sunday!
Thurs. 12 – Evening meeting at Zoology Lecture Theatre, Pmb. – Illustrated talk by Dr Alan Manson on ‘Birding with a Bakkie – using SABAP2 as an excuse to explore S.A'!
Sun. 15 – Morning outing to Umgeni Valley at 07h00.  There is an entrance fee payable if you are not a WESSA member.  Venues sometimes change owing to weather etc. so please phone the leader first.  Leader – Pam Nicol 033-330-2947
Wed. 18 - Evening meeting at WESSA. Illustrated talk by Chris Watcham on ‘The Arctic.’
Wed. 25 – Morning outing to Cumberland Nature Reserve.  Meet at Umgeni Valley at 07h00 or at the registration kiosk at 08h00. There is an entrance fee of R10 pp.  Venues sometimes change owing to weather etc. so please phone the leader first.  Leader – Peter Divall 033-239-5537

May
Sun. 6 – Morning outing to Darvill at 07h30. Leader - Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555
Thurs. 10 – Evening meeting at Zoology Lecture Theatre, Pmb. –  Illustrated talk by Dr Mark Brown on ‘Climate change: it’s for the birds (NOT!)’
Sun. 13 - Morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park at 07h30. Leader - Mike Spain 033 347 2797
Wed. 16 – Evening meeting at WESSA, Howick – Illustrated talk by Peter Divall on ‘Uganda Birding’ - with the added bonus of Primates!
Sun. 20 - Morning outing to Cumberland Nature Reserve.  Meet at Umgeni Valley at 07h15 to arrange transport or at Cumberland at 08h00. Bring tea. Venues sometimes change owing to weather etc. so please phone the leader first. There is an entrance fee of R10 pp. Leader - Hugh Bulcock 082 373 6569
Wed. 30 – Morning outing to Barend Booysen’s farm in the Dargle.  Meet at Umgeni Valley at 07h30 to arrange transport. There is a fee of R10 pp.  Venues sometimes change owing to weather etc. so please phone the leader first.  Leader - Pam Nicol 033 330 2947

June
Sun. 3 – Morning outing to Darvill at 07h30.  Leader - Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555
Sun. 10 – Morning outing to Bisley Valley at 07h30.  Leader - Mike Spain 033 347 2797.
Thurs. 14 – Evening meeting at Zoology Lecture Theatre, Pmb – Illustrated talk by Peter Divall on ‘Uganda Birding’ - with the added bonus of Primates!
Sun. 17 – Outing to Moor Park near Estcourt at 08h00. There is an entrance fee unless you have a Wild or Rhino Card.  Venues sometimes change owing to weather etc. so please phone the leader first.  Leader - David Crampton 082 771 7274.
Wed.  20 – Evening meeting at WESSA, - Illustrated talk by Dr Mark Brown on ‘Climate change: it’s for the birds (NOT!)’
Wed. 27 – Outing to Weenen Game Reserve between Estcourt and Weenen. There is an entrance fee of R30pp and R20 per vehicle unless you have a Wild or Rhino Card.  Meet at Umgeni Valley to arrange transport at 07h30. Venues sometimes change owing to weather etc. so please phone the leader first. Leader - Eve Hughes 033 330 2723

July
July is Winter Recess for both evening meetings!
Sun. 1 – Morning outing to Darvill at 07h30.  Leader - Gordon Bennett 033 386 5555.
Sun. 8 – Morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park at 07h30.  Leader - Mike Spain 033 347 2797.
Sun. 15 – Outing to Beachwood Mangrove Park in Durban where we may see the Mangrove Kingfisher. There is a booking fee of R250 and the cost will be shared between all the visitors. The leader must be contacted before in order to arrange the meeting time and to get directions.  Bring tea and lunch because there may be visits to other sites.  Leader - Colin Summersgill 033 818 9013 or 083 782 5113                                                               
Wed. 25 – Outing to Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve in the vicinity of Durban.  Meet at Umgeni Valley at 07h30 to arrange transport or at the reserve gate about 09h00.  Take the N3 south and turn off towards Queensburgh (M7). Take the Bellville Road off-ramp and turn right back over the N7 and then left into Main Road/Hoofweg which becomes Sania Road.  At the traffic lights at Coedmore Road turn right and drive through the Cement Factory property, then travel for 3 km and the entrance to the reserve is on the fight where we will meet.  There is an entrance fee unless you have a Rhino or Wild Card.  Venues sometimes change owing to weather etc. so please phone the leader first.  Leader - Drummond Densham 033 330 3940

Thursday 2 February 2012

ADU 20th Anniversary Celebrations in KZN


The KZN celebration  of the ADU's 20th Anniversary will be held at the Pietermaritzburg Botanic Gardens on Saturday 11 February 2012. The programme is as follows:
ADU T-shirts will be on sale at the venue, or from the ADU's online shop.


09:30 Tea and coffee
10:00 Welcome - Doug Harebottle 
10:05 Southern African Bird Atlas Project 2 (SABAP2) - Colin Summersgill 
10:25 Southern African Butterfly Conservation Assessment (SABCA) - Steve Woodhall 
10:45 Birds In Reserves Project (BIRP) - Peter Greaves 
11:05 Tea 
11:30 Southern African Bird Ringing Unit (SAFRING) - Dieter Oschadleus/Mark Brown 
11:50 Coordinated Waterbird Counts (CWAC) - Doug Harebottle 
12:10 Southern African Reptile Conservation Assessment (SARCA) - Johan Marais 
12:30 The Virtual Museums - Dieter Oschadleus 
12.50 Coordinated Avifaunal Roadcounts (CAR)- Doug Harebottle 
13:10 Picnic lunch
14:00 Feedback session
15:00 Wrap-up


For further information and to register look at: http://20.adu.org.za/index.php

Activities for February to April 2012

February
Sun. 5 - Morning outing to Darvill at 06h00. Leader - Gordon Bennett 033-386-5555
Mon. to Fri. Feb. 6 – 10 - The Club has made a booking for a 5 day 4 nights stay at Wakkerstroom.  Rates as follows: 1 Guest suite with double bed and 1 single bed – R165pp\n.  6 Dorm rooms with 2 single beds – R115pp/n.  Lucky, the guide, has been booked for 7 & 8 Feb.  If interested in coming along please contact Eve Hughes 033-330-2723 or ecotours96 @ gmail.com
Sat. 11 –ADU’s 20th Anniversary celebration at the PMB Botanic Gardens 09:30.  Enquiries – Colin Summersgill 033-818-9013 or go to http://20.adu.org.za/index.php for more details.
Sun. 12 – Morning outing to Queen Elizabeth Park at 06:00.  Leader - Mike Spain 033-347-2797
Sat. 18 - Birdlife KZN Midlands will be having their AGM at the Karkloof Country Club at 11h00Dr David Johnson will be the guest speaker whose topic will be “Bird Evolution”. There will be birding before at Gartmore Farm from 07h00.  Tea/snacks at R10.00 per head on arrival at the Club, followed by the luncheon at a cost of R125.00 per head. Members, non-members and friends are very welcome, but please try and book with either Sally – 072-119-4253 (WESSA’s lines have been stolen again!) or Pam – 033-330-2947 by Feb. 1 in order to give the caterers as much notice as poss.
Wed. 29 – Morning outing to Mbona Estate in the Karkloof.  Meet at Umgeni Valley at 06h30 to arrange transport or meet at the gate of Mbona at 07h00.  Venues sometimes change owing to weather etc. so please phone the leader first.   Leader - Eve Hughes 033-330-2723.

March
Sun. 4 – Morning outing to Darvill at 06h30.  Leader - Gordon Bennett 033-386-5555
Sun. 11 – Morning outing to Bisley Valley at 06h30.  Leader - Mike Spain 033-347-2797
Sun. 18 – Morning outing to Tillietudlem in the Upper Dargle. Venues sometimes change owing to weather etc. so please phone the leader first, also please phone regarding time and place to meet.  Leader Hugh Bulcock 082-373-6569
Wed. 21 – Evening meeting at WESSA - Illustrated talk by John Carlyon on ‘Nocturnal Birds.’
Wed. 28 – Morning outing to Tillietudlem in the Upper Dargle. Meet at Umgeni Valley at 07h00 to arrange transport. Venues sometimes change owing to weather etc. so please phone the leader first.  Leader - Karin Nelson 033-330-3927.

April
Sun. 1 – Morning outing to Darvill at  07h00. Leader – Gordon Bennett  033-386-5555
Sun. 8 – No morning outing – Easter Sunday!
Sun. 15 – Morning outing to Umgeni Valley at 07h00.  There is an entrance fee payable if you are not a WESSA member. Venues sometimes change owing to weather etc. so please phone the leader first.  Leader – Pam Nicol 033-330-2947
Wed. 18 - Evening meeting at WESSA. Illustrated talk by Chris Watcham on ‘The Arctic.’
Wed. 25 – Morning outing to Cumberland Nature Reserve.  Meet at Umgeni Valley at 07h00 or at the registration kiosk at 08h00. There is an entrance fee payable.  Venues sometimes change owing to weather etc.  so please phone the leader first.  Leader – Peter Divall 033-239-5537